Emily told me a couple of years ago that the only thing she did not like about having a large family was putting her initials on her clothes. We do that to make sorting easier while folding them. It tells us quickly which pile to put the clothes so they get to the correct bedroom.
To tame the laundry monster, we do two super sized loads of laundry every week day. This keeps our laundry in check. I hang my clothes inside near the wood stove or outside on the clothesline which really saves on the electric bill. I have two washing machines instead of a dryer. That cuts down on the amount of time I spend dealing with laundry.
We use terry bathrobes to cut down on towel use. Every member of the family has their own bathrobe. Since they are only worn only very briefly immediately after a shower, they are washed once a week. Using the robes not only cuts down on laundry loads, but it has saved us money since we are not having to wash and replace towels as frequently.
Since starting their jobs, Joshua and Caleb have been doing their own laundry. This protects their work uniforms from becoming lost in the laundry shuffle. It also helps prepare them for living on their own.
Socks were a challenge until I stopped buying them one package at a time. I learned it was more cost effective and easier to manage if I purchased a few packages of the same kinds of socks for a family member. I tried to keep everyone's socks a little different. When I couldn't tell the difference easily, I marked the base of the foot with their initial. My two middle boys could wear the same sized socks most of the time. Emily and Hannah have been like that too. That helped with the sorting a little. Now, everyone in the family can wear the same size socks. Granted, Hannah's feet are a bit small for adult sized socks, but she insists on not being left out. She has appropriate sized socks, but she will grab from the "family sock" bin so she can be included with the rest of us.
Over the last couple of years, I have purchased about 25 packages of 5 Dickies socks in black. Walmart often has a bundle deal which allows me to get them for $7.50ish a pack. These have been very durable compared to the other brands we have used in the past. I have only thrown away one of those socks so far. I only see a few with tiny holes in them.
"You wear men's socks?!!" Yes, I do. I got tired of dealing with the higher priced but inferior quality of socks we women have to deal with in the box stores. I personally prefer men's socks over ladies socks because they are thicker, more durable, and keep my feet warmer on these beautiful hardwood floors. They hold up better to the activities I enjoy like hiking, camping, etc. I also wear men's sweatpants in the winter because they are less expensive, more durable, thicker and warmer..and, busy moms, the clencher for me was....they have pockets!!
I had my children help me sort, wash, hang, fold, and put away clothes as a younger mother. This way, I could teach them the correct way through repetition. As they grew, they were able to take over the chore as needed. We have had some surprisingly deep conversations while folding laundry. Of course, we've also had some rowdy games of "sock ball."
Laundry in a large family is a frustrating issue sometimes, but it can be made more manageable if you look at the problem areas and try to find solutions. If something isn't working for you, try something else. If your children are loved, healthy, well cared for, but the laundry is out of control, it's OK. You have your priorities right. Keep looking for ways to improve and know it will get easier as the children grow.
